Separator.



G'. R. LYONS.

SEPARATOR. APPLICATION H'LED mmnzl. 19x4.

Patented July 13,1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1-.

GLR. LYO NS.

SEPARATOR. I APPLICATION FILED MAR. 27, 1914.

1633, Patentd July 13, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

G. R. LYONS.

SEPARATOR. 'APPLICATION FILED MAR. 27. 1914.

Patented July 13, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 uni s rains arnur Finn.

GEORGE RUSSEILL LYQNS, F SACKET HARBOR, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO PAUL HURST, OF MADISON BARRACKS, NEW YORK.

' ,SEPARATOR.

i,ilei8,633.

" To all whom it may concern Be it known. that I, Gnoncn RUSSELL I LYoNs, a citizen of the United States, Ie-

siding at Sacket Harbor, in the county of Jefferson and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Separators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a separator for separating fine from coarse particles, or one grade of matter from another, and wherein the separating operation is secured by the winnowing and precipitating actions of air currents and precipitating mechanism upon the material.

One object of the invention is to provide cipitating elements as to insure a fine separation under all conditions of service, without the necessity of making any material or frequent adjustments of the parts.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a construction of separating apparatus of the character set forth in which all liability of choking of theworking parts is avoided, and in which the arrangement is such as to permit of the ready application of the working parts for use and theremoval of the same forcleaning, repairs or other purposes.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a view, in vertical section, of

the entire separator. Fig. 2 is a top plan view'of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the top portion of the sepa- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented .iai s, 11915.

7 Application filed March 27, 1914. Serial No. 827,672.

rator on an enlarged scale. Figs. l, 5, 6 and 7 are horizontal transverse sections on the line e1i, 5-5, 6-6 and 77 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a view'of the shaft, suction and precipitating fans and spreader detached from the machine.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the outer casing, having the cylindrical up per portion 2 and the cone shaped or tapering lower portion 3, the latter being pro- Vided With the outlet 4 for the clay or fine material from which the sand or other gritty material has been separated. The upper end of the casing l is closed by a head or top plate 5, to which the casing is fastened by bolts 6, said head or top plate having a depending tapered flange 7, against which the upper edge of the casing is drawn to form an air and dustproofconnection. The said head or top plate 5 is designed to seat within an opening in the floor of the room or apartment in which the separator is arranged andis provided with internally extending ears 8 to rest uponthe floor rafters,

bolts 9 being provided to fasten said top plate or-head rigidly in position.

Disposed within the outer casing is an inner casing consisting of tapered or frustoconical upper and lower shells 9 and 10, the former serving as a separating chamber and the latter-as a receiving chamber for the sand or gritty material, which discharges through an outlet pipe 11 at the lower end of said lower shell or chamber 10. As

shown, the upper shell or separating chamber 9 has a frusto-conical upper portion 12, provided at one side with an inlet 13 for the reception of a pipe 14: extending downward through the head or top plate 5, and through which pipe the material to be separated, such as clayand sand or other gritty substances, is fed in a properly pulverized or comminuted condition to the separator.

The adjacent ends of the shells or casing sections 9 and 10 are provided with annular outwardly extending flanges 15 and 16,

united by bolts 17, whereby said shells or casing sections are held properly spaced apart and detachably connected for convenience in assembling and disassembling the same. The opposing faces of these flanges are formedwith grooves or recesses to reor vanes 19, which are clamped in position against said flanges and fornran annii'l series of air inlets 20. Thevanes and inlets are disposed tangentially so that 1 11 the .operation of thezapparatus currents "of air will be drawn 'at an angle into the inner casing for upward travel in such a way as to insure the free entrance of the air currents at an angle and in a whirl to keep the passages clear and prevent the escape of any of the particles of sand or gritty matter.

Arranged Vertically within the inner c asing is a shaft 20 provided at its upper end with a pulley 21 by which it may be, revolved from any suitable source of power. The lower end of this shaft carries a spreader-22 consisting of a series of arms or blades arranged in proximity to the delivery end of the pipe 'l l'and working in the upper shell 9, wherebythe material entering through said pipeis scattered or spread out and the sandor grit is kept loose for a free discharge through the outlet pipe 11. The upper end --of the shaft carries in" superposed relat on rotary fanseparators 23 and 24c, and

said upper end of the shaft extends up-' wardly through a lid or cover plate 25 arranged to close an opening 26 in the top plateor head 5, which opening is of sufli- C cient size to permit the shaft, inner casing and parts applied to the shaft to be readily inserted within and removed from the outer casing. As shown, the shaft is Journaled in bearings 27 and 28. Thebearing 27, which may be of the ball bearing or antifriction type, is carried by an arm 29extending horizontally from an upright 30 rising from the head plate 5, to which upright is hinged or pivoted, as at 31, a. bracket arm carrying the bearing 28, which bearing. is detachable so that by swinging the bracket arm 32 later-- ally out of the path of the lid provision is made for permitting the shaft and parts carried thereby to be lifted out or the fan and precipitator to be slid upwardly on the shaft through the'opening-26 for repairs or other purposes. 'A fastening device 33, of

any preferred construction, is provided for securing the bracket arm 32 in normal posi tion, and collars 34 and 35, secured in position by'set screws 36 and 37, are provided on the shaft for engagement with the respec V tive hearings to hold the shaft from longitudinal movement.

' The fan 23 consists of an annular series of blades 38 disposed radially between superposed disks or heads 39 and 40 about the shaft, to which the fans 23 and 2 are detacliably secured in any preferred manner. As shown, the fan 23 revolves in the space above the upper shell 9 and between the same and the head 5, and in operation produces a suction within said shell, whereby the air is drawn in at the lower end thereof and additionally supported.

through the passages 20. The fan 24: conistsyof an annular series of blades 41 exding between superposed-disks or heads 2 and 43', one of somewhat greater diameter than the other, saidblades being arranged a about and in spaced relation tothe shaft so.

as to allow the air to flow freely through the spaces between said blades and also upward "through the space between the series 'of blades andithe shaft, which space commrini:

cates with the annular space about the shaft from which the passages between the fan blades 38 radiate. 1

The blades of both fans are of-less leiigth than the diameter of the fan, having annular air passages about the shaft and between thesame andythe blades. The lower head aO of the fan 23 and upper head 1-2 ofth'e fan As will be observed, the fan 23 revolvesin the clear space between the upper shell 9 and shell 5, which-space communicates with the outer casing 1, while the fan 2st revolves within the upper portion of the inner shell 9 above the point of delivery of the material feeding to the separator through. the pipe 14,7the rotation of said fan 23, inducing a suction whereby the material entering the shell and pushed about by the spreader 22 is drawn upwardly, and an upwardly traveling current of air produced, the air entering the inlets 20 at an angle and preventing the discharge of any of the particles of the material therethrough. This suction action of the fan 23 is governed and controlled by a determined air retarding action of thegfan 24-, as a result of which the lighter and finer particles of the material, together with only a proportion of the coarser and heavier parti cles, are caused to travel upward, while the remainder of the coarser particles pass downward into the delivery receptacle or shell 9. The fan 24 in action operates as a rotary screen to separate the liner from the coarser particles and to reject and prevent passage of the heavier and coarser particles with the finer particles into the spaces between the blades 41, said fan 21- also serving by centrifugal force to precipitate the heavier and coarser particles against the walls ,of the shell 9 for downward travel, thus separating or liberating the finer parti cles of the material from the coarser particles, These finer particles, thus liberated from the heavier particles, are floated upwardly by the ascending air currents under the suction produced by the fans and pass through the outlet 4 into any suitable receptacle, while the *heavier particles are precipitated into the bottom of the f shell 9 and thence into the receiving shell-10, kept loose by the action of'- the agitator 22 and discharged through the pipe 11.

As'shown, the fan 24 is of less diameter than thefan 23 and is conical or tapered, its blades 41, which are radially disposed and arranged closer together than the blades 38,,

being substantially triangular in shape, of greater radial extent at the top than at the bottom, and spaced-wider apart at the top than the bottom, by which construction the centrifugal precipitating action is progressively increased from top to bottom, preventing the. coarse particles ofthe mass from being drawn upwardly by the air suction'of the fan while at the same time causing a greater equalization of the draft, which is essential to a thorough and eflicient separation. The material supplied from the feed pipe is thus separated 'by centrifugal force into its finer'and lighter and'coarser and heavier particles, the finer particles being suspended in the air and carried up by the air currents and conducted into the outer casing, while the heavier particles fall by gravity into the lower shell of the inner casing from which they discharge, the use of screens and other retarding elements thus being avoided and a much more eflicient separating actionobtained.

Arranged "n the shell 10 is-a vertically movable valve or draft controller 46 limited in its downward movement by a suitable stop 47 and connected with a controlling rod 48 leading downward through .the outlet 4,

through the'medium of which rod said valve or draft controller may be adjusted. Any suitable holding means for maintaining the draft controller in adjusted condition may be employed.

I claim 1. A centrifugal air-separator including superposed separatingand receiving chambers, the said separating chamber being provided with a feed inlet and the said receiving chamber with a discharge outlet, an

air inlet device between the proximate ends of said chambers, an outer casing inclosing said chambers, a shaft extending downwardly into said outer casing and separating chamber, an agitator upon said shaft within the separating chamber, a rotary suction fan upon the shaft within the outer casing and above the separating chamber, and a rotary screen .upon the shaft within the upper portion of the separating chamber and below said fan, said screen being provided with spaced blades forming constricted air passages, said blades being spaced from the shaft to provide an air channel.

, 2. A centrifugal air-separator including superposed separating and receiving chamvided with an annular series of bladesform- &

ing air passages, said blades being spaced from the shaft to provide an air'channel,

said screen being of less diameter than the fan and having its blades of greater radialdimensions at the top than at the bottom and spaced a greater distance apart at the top than at the bottom, and means for driving the shaft.

3. A centrifugal air-separator includin superposed separating and receiving chambers, said separating chamber having a feed inlet and said receiving chamber having a discharge outlet, an air inlet device inter.- posed between said chambers, an outer cas ing inclosing said chambers, a'shaft extendingdownward into said casing and separating chamber, a rotaryoagitato-rcarried by the shaft and operating in the separating I chamber, a suction fan mounted'upon said shaft within the upper portion of the outer casing and above the separating chamber,

a rotary screen upon the shaft beneath said fan, said screen comprislng upper and lower heads and an annular series of intervening radial blades spaced from each other to provide an annular series of air passagesand from the shaft to provide an air channel,

said blades being arranged to give a tapered formation to the screen and of greatest radial dimensions at their upper ends and spaced a greater distance at their upper ends than at their lower ends, a connection between said fan and screen bringing their channels into communicating relation, and

means for driving the shaft.

4. A centrifugal air-separator including superposed separatlng and receiving chambers, said separating chamber being provided with a feed inlet and'said receiving chamber with a discharge outlet, an outer casing inclosing said chambers, a shaft depending into the outer casing and separating CllZlIDUQI, a rotary agitator upon said shaft within said chamber, a rotary suction fan upon the shaft within the-upper portion of the outer casing and above the separating chamber, a rotary screen upon the shaft within the upper portion of the separating chamber, said screen being of less diameter than the fan and connected to rotate thereair passages of less radial extent and width.

at their lower portions than at their upper portionsand spaced from the shaft to pro- I vide'an air channel communicating with the with and provided with an annular series of blades spaced from each other to provide air channel of the fan, and means for driving said shaft. Y

5. A, centrifugal air-separator including superposed separating and receiving chambers, the former having a feed inlet and the latter a discharge outlet, an outer casing inclosing said chambers, ahead closing the top of the casing and having an opening therein, a detachable cover closing said opening, a stationary bearing memberiupon the head, a movable bearing member below the firstnamed bearing member and extending across .said cover, said movable bearing member being detachably secured in position and adapted when released to be swung clear of said opening, and a shaft journaled in said bearing members and depending,

through said opening into the outer casing and separating chamber, means for driving said shaft, an air inlet devlce communicating with the separatingochamber, an agitator upon the shaft within the separating chamber, a suction fan carried by the shaft and arranged within the upper portion of the outer casing and above the separating chamber, and a rotary screen carried by the shaft and arranged within the upper portion of the separating chamber, said shaft,

agitator, suction fan and screen being removable as a unit through said opening in the head of the outer casing.

6. A centrifugal air-separator including "superposed separating and receivingchamries of blades, of major radial extent at theirupper ends and disposed closer together at their lower ends than at their upper ends.

TL'A centrifugal separator including an outer casing, an inner casing within the outer casing and compris ng superposed separating 'and receivlng chambers, the latter having an outlet at its lower end, a head closing the outer casing, a shaft extending through the head downwardlyinto said separating and receiving chambers, an air inlet device having an annular series of tangential air passages at the point of intersection of said chambers, a rotary fan upon the shaft above the separating chamber andbetween the same and the head plate, a feed pipe extending downwardly through the -head plate and communicating with the up-' per portion of the separating chamber, and a rotary screen upon the shaft of less diameter than the fan and operating within the upperportion of the separating chamber.

8. A centrifugal air-separator including an outer casing, a head plate closing the top of the outer casing, an inner casing within the outer casing and comprising superposed separating and receiving chambers, the latter having an outlet at its lower end, an air inlet device provided with an annular series of tangential air passages and arranged'at the point of intersection of said. chambers, a

feed pipe extending downwardly through the head plate and communicating with the.v

upper portion of the separating chamber, a rotary fan carried by the shaft above the separating chamber and between 'the same and the head plate, an agitator upon the shaft Within the receiving chamber, a rotary screen upon the shaft within'theupper portion of the separating chamber, said screen being of less diameter than the fan and comprising spaced' annular heads, the upper;

head being of greater diameter than the lower,- and an "annular series of blades between said heads, said blades being of greater radial dimensions at their upper ends than at their lower ends and spaced a greater distance apart at their upper ends than at their lower ends.

9. A separator of the character described comprising an outer casing having an outlet at its lower end, and an inner casing composed of an upper separating chamber and a lower receiving chamber, the latter named chamber having an outlet at its lower end, anair lnlet device havingan annular series of air devices disposed between said cham-.

bers and establishingcommunication between the outer and inner casings, afeed chamber, a spreader mounted, upon said shaft a rotary screen mounted on the shaft withm the upper portion of the separating chamber, a suction fan mounted upon the shaft within the outer casing and above the separating chamber of the inner casing, said fanand screen having blades providingair passages, in communication with each other, and means for driving said shaft.

10. A separator of the character described including separating and receiving chambers, the former'having a feed inlet and the latter having a discharge outlet, means for admitting air for upward travel through the separating chamber, an agitator in said champipe entering the separating chamber of the 'inner cas1ng,.a shaft depending into said her, a rotary screen within the upper por tion of said chamber, and a rotary-fan arimparting motion to the aforesaid movable ranged above said screen and chamber and parts; 10- arranged. to rotate in unison With the agi- In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature tator and screen, said fan and screen being. in presence of two Witnesses.

provided With blades forming peripheral air GEORGE RUSSELL LYONS. passages and internal air channels, the chan- Witnesses: 3

nels of the fan and screen being in com-' H. L. HOOKER,

munication With each other, and means for JULIA M. ANDREWS. v 

